Two dead as police clash with illegal miners

At least two illegal miners died on Friday, as the Mozambican police attempted to disperse the miners at Mavonde, in the central province of Manica, near the border with Zimbabwe, according to a report carried by the Portuguese news agency Lusa.

“The police went to the illegal mines of Mavonde to stop the mining, but there was a violent reaction”, said the Manica provincial police spokesperson, Belmiro Matadiua.

He said the police opened fire after the miners resisted the order to leave. “They used rocks, clubs and machetes against the police”, he said, “and five policemen were injured”.

The police said two miners were killed and one was injured, but the miners themselves said there were three deaths. “Two died at the mines, and one lost his life in the hospital. Many others are injured”, claimed one of the miners, Matthew Duke.

The police arrested 80 miners in connection with the disturbances. 56 of the detainees are Zimbabweans.